I invested in a silver fund last year (SLV), and a Gold Fund (GLD). These are diversification funds, representing maybe 5% of my portfolio.

GLD turns to be a pain in the tail at tax time. Something like: Gold is a real asset, so your dividends are taxed at the rate of income (cuz it's a physical, tangible asset transformed into cash), *not* capital gains. Only turbotax is incapable of figuring this out.

So for maybe $20 of dividends in a year you have to wrestle with the tax program for 30 minutes and sweat if the IRS is gonna care.

SO ... I got out of GLD in January with a decent return.

SO ... I now have some $$$ to invest.

I think we'd like to buy silver, possibly having it shipped to our house, stored in a box in the basement. Again, not my life's savings, just a modest hedge investment.

SO it looks like we can get silver dollars for about their actual value in silver ($17 for a one-ounce coin) /or/ look into bars.

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